Which Xbox Is Better S Or X

Which Xbox Should You Buy

We’ll have to see both systems ourselves and put them through their paces to really know which is the better value. Based on the specs and features, the Xbox Series X seems superior across the board, with much more processing power and the ability to render at 4K, along with double the storage and an optical drive for physical media. It’s much bigger and more expensive, however, so if budget and space are concerns for you, the Xbox Series S looks to be a respectable system with plenty of power in its own right, though the lack of a disc drive is a distinct weakness.

We’ll update this story as we learn more about the new systems, so make sure to check back. And if you already know which one you want, head over to our story on how to pre-order the new Xbox.

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Xbox Series X Vs Xbox Series S Specs

The Xbox Series X is a beast of a console that’s truly brought us into the latest generation of gaming. Heres whats inside the diminutive tower of power:

• CPU: Eight-core 3.8GHz custom AMD 7nm
• GPU: 12 teraflops 1.825GHz
• RAM: 16GB GDDR6
• Optical: HD Blu-Ray disk drive
• Storage: 1TB NVMe SSD

With a 12 teraflop GPU capable of up to 120 frames per second, the Xbox Series X is twice as powerful as the Xbox One X, Microsofts former flagship console. It supports various exciting next-gen features such as ray tracing, variable rate shading and even support for 8K resolution.

The Xbox Series X makes the wait when booting up games or loading new levels a thing of the past thanks to its custom designed super-fast NVMe SSD. The SSD is part of the consoles new Velocity Architecture, which allows multiple games to be suspended in the background while youre playing something entirely different. Everything is more responsive and snappier as a result, too.

Microsoft is also trying to make latency a thing of the past on Xbox Series X. Forward-thinking features such as Auto Low Latency Mode , communication improvements to the Xbox controller, and Variable Refresh Rate support take full advantage of TVs with HDMI 2.1 support.

In comparison, here are the Xbox Series S specs:

• CPU: Eight-core 3.6GHz custom AMD 7nm
• GPU: 4 teraflops at 1.550GHz
• RAM: 10GB GDDR6
• Frame rate: Up to 120 fps
• Resolution: 1440p with 4K upscaling
• Optical: No disk drive
• Storage: 512GB NVMe SSD

Disc Drive Or No Disc Drive

Aside from the price, one of the biggest differences between the Xbox Series X and the Xbox Series S is the fact that the Xbox Series S does not include a disc drive. This means you will not be able to play any of the Xbox games you purchase at the store using their physical discs. Youll only be able to play games that youve downloaded over the internet.

Physically, the Xbox Series S is a much smaller console than the Xbox Series X, so if space near the TV is a concern, keep that in mind.

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Xbox Series X Vs Ps: Games

After major delays, Halo Infinite is now available on the Xbox Series X. Although it was meant to be a launch title for the new console, when it finally arrived in December 2021, it was worth the wait. We enjoyed its captivating story and its liberating gameplay. Developer 343 Industries has created a campaign that will resonate with veteran Halo fans and inspire a new generation of players.

At launch, the Xbox Series X offered Dirt 5, Yakuza: Like a Dragon and and Viking-themed Assassinâs Creed Valhalla. Further down the line, we can expect more titles, such as Vampire: the Masquerade â Bloodlines 2 â plus many more. Hereâs the current list of confirmed Xbox Series X games.

Even more thrilling was the announcement of a Fable reboot at Microsoftâs , along with a new Forza installment, and a medieval fantasy RPG from Obsidian called Avowed. Sony has traditionally won when it comes to exclusive games, but Microsoft is certainly gaining ground for its next-gen console.

A statement of intent if there ever was one, Microsoft recently announced the acquisition of ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda. That means that games such as The Elder Scrolls 6 and Starfield could become Xbox exclusives and that many games from ZeniMaxâs studios will be coming to Xbox Game Pass in the near future, starting with Doom Eternal.

You can find all the latest cheap PS5 game deals right here.

Xbox Series X Vs Series S: Specs

• Xbox Series X $499/£449/499
• Xbox Series S $299/£249/299

The Xbox Series X and Series S launched on November 10, 2020, priced at $499 and $299, respectively. The former is the same price as the original Xbox One and Xbox One X, while the latter matches the launch price of the original Xbox and the Xbox 360 .

The Series Xs main rival is the PlayStation 5, which also sells for $499. The Series S competes with the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. The PS5 Digital Edition is a carbon copy of the standard PS5 but without a disc drive. As such, its a little more expensive than the Series S at $399 but far more powerful as a result.

Theres also the Nintendo Switch to consider. However, it doesnt directly compete with Sony or Microsoft due to its home-handheld hybrid design, reduced power, and unique Nintendo games exclusive to the system.

Check out our dedicated articles below for comparisons between Sony and Microsofts ninth-gen consoles:

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Ps5 Vs Xbox Series X: Which Next

Do you need the new PS5 or the new Xbox Series X? If youâre not sure which of these two next-gen games consoles you should buy, this guide is for you.

Before we get into the details, letâs first talk about the big problem with these two latest and greatest consoles: theyâre hard to find.

Although the PS5 and Xbox Series X have been on sale for a year now, a whole raft of reasons, including a global chip shortage, huge demand, scalpers and the pandemic, mean many people still desperate for a new console havenât been able to get one yet. Itâs tricky to guess whether this short supply will continue, experts believe we might not see more availability of the PS5 until mid-2022.

But stock issues aside for now, the key thing you need to know about the PS5 and Xbox Series X in this head-to-head is thereâs no outright winner here. Each console is, in many ways, just as good as the other when it comes to the best games you can play and the top features that are built-in.

The two next-gen consoles are capable of 4K gaming at up to 120 frames per second, extremely powerful, and come with support for ray tracing, as well as super-fast load times. Both the PS5 and Xbox Series X are innovative in their own right. Although that might make your decision even more challenging, itâs good news. The more Microsoft and Sony battle it out for the top spot, the better it is for consumers.

Xbox Game Pass Comparison

Suffice it to say, if you dont have the cash to make a big upfront purchase, then Microsoft still wants to get you on board for its next generation of consoles. You wont own any of the games you can play , but thats the trade-off you make.

Microsofts plans for the next generation of gaming are sprawling. Two consoles that are available via subscription and can play a huge chunk of your existing Xbox games, a new roster of games that will be playable on your existing Xbox One, a continuing focus on PC gaming, and a game streaming service mean that, no matter what hardware you own, theres a decent chance youll be able to pay Microsoft to play its games.

Weve written before about how the focus on trying to sell subscriptions rather than premium hardware means that the true next-gen Xbox is the subscription itself, rather than the hardware it plays on. Microsoft is casting its net wide, and it doesnt want any hardware requirements to get in the way of you subscribing.

Sony, meanwhile, is doing what its always done: its making a new console, developing exclusive games for it, and selling it. Its hard to argue too much with the approach when its done so well for the company so far, especially with the PS4.

Update November 12th, 1:30PM ET: Added hands on impressions now that the Xbox Series S and Series X have launched.

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Xbox Series X Vs Xbox Series S: Which One Is Right For Me

We break down the differences between Xbox’s next-gen video game consoles.

The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S are Xbox’s next-gen video game consoles that were released during the holiday season of 2020.

While both consoles are technically part of the same console generation , there are some noteworthy differences between the systems.

Were here with a look at the major differences between the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S, so you can have all of the information you need to decide which console is right for your family.

Pro Xbox One: Getting A Free Windows Pc Version Included With Your Xbox Game Is A Dream Come True

We always like to imagine a no-compromises gaming experience. Its this magical idea: that you could pop in a game and play it wherever you want. Nintendo even went as far as building their entire system around this hypothetical situation. Well, Microsoft is betting that if you own a Xbox One or a gaming PC , you might run into a scenario where its easier to play your game across more than one device. So why limit players? If you buy a first-party Microsoft game digitally, you get both an Xbox One and Windows PC copy. The best part? Third-party developers are starting to jump onboard. Suddenly you arent tethered to one box to enjoy your games its nice.

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When Will The Xbox Series X And Series S Be Easy To Find

The Xbox Series X and Series S launched on November 10, 2020, and have been in short supply ever since. This supply shortage, which also affects Sonys PlayStation 5, PC graphics cards and other components, as well as microprocessors used in vehicle production and other electronics-based devices, is widespread, related to Covid-19 and other production problems, and is likely to persist throughout 2021. The Xbox Series S has recently become easier to find, though its often out of stock. We expect it will be difficult to find an Xbox Series X until some time in 2022.

Pro Ps: The Ps4 Controller Is Rechargeable

Its a simple luxury, but there you have it. Not having to think about batteries is a significant bonus. It almost feels antiquated in 2017 to have to consider buying and properly disposing of batteries. Granted, you can buy a battery pack for Xbox controllers and simply replace it if they ever stop keeping their charge. Lets be realistic, though: were going to totally mangle our PlayStation controllers before our batteries fail. It would be nice if PS4 controllers stayed charged a little longer or let you disable the battery-draining light bar. Still, better to have rechargeable batteries then suddenly realizing there arent anymore AA batteries in the house halfway through an online game of Rocket League.

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The Best Overall Library

Of course, next-gen exclusives aren’t the only titles that matter. With its unrivalled Game Pass service, Xbox has made hundreds of new releases and bonafide classics readily accessible to players in 2021.

For just $9.99 a month, you can enjoy third-party blockbusters that came out over the past twelve months, including the brilliant Psychonauts 2,Back 4 Blood, The Medium and Aliens: Fireteam Elite. While these titles are all individually available on the PS5, you do have to pay full price to experience them.

Xbox have also continued to demonstrate a commitment to preservation in 2021, by expanding their backwards compatibility library. Being able to boot up your brand-new console and is a huge win for consumers and PlayStation has yet to rise to the occasion here.

Speaking of which, PS Now is comparably lacklustre. New releases take much longer to appear on the service, and it is nowhere near as expansive when it comes to backwards compatibility.

Verdict: There’s no contest here, as Xbox’s Game Pass offer gives it the biggest library at the best value for money.

Pro Xbox One: There Is A Huge Selection Of Different Xbox One Controllers

With names like Copper Shadow and Lunar White, Xbox One controllers are really brazen and stylish. What started as a small community of players spray painting the faceplates of their controllers has turned into a cool side-project for Microsoft. Since Microsoft already has the tools to build their own flashy controllers, the company gave the reigns to players as well. Xbox Design Lab lets you customize your own Xbox One controller with official components from Microsoft. Best of all, since Xbox One controllers are Bluetooth, you can use that personalized controller on a wide-range of devices. Then theres the Xbox Elite controller, which costs a pretty penny but is for all intents and purposes the best gaming controller ever built.

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Some Quick Caveats To Keep In Mind

Despite holding up well against the Xbox Series X and PS5, the Series S isnt without its caveats. The consoles small 512GB SSD only has about 364GB of usable storage, which means that itll quickly fill up with modern games that can demand as much as 100GB of space. You can always delete and redownload software as you need to, or pick up a Seagate expansion card, but the former can get annoying and the latter is very expensive.

And while the Xbox Series S is capable of ray tracing a fancy tech feature that allows for ultrarealistic reflections and shadows some games only support it on the more powerful Xbox Series X. Finally, if you own or plan on upgrading to a 4K TV or monitor down the line, the Xbox Series X and PS5 will both be a more future-proof purchase.

Better Graphics On Old Games Great Graphics On New Games

The Xbox Series X and Series S feature a new generation of graphics hardware that is more capable than the components of previous consoles in a variety of ways. In most titles, you can expect higher resolutions, higher frame rates, and more detailed characters and environments compared to the same games on Xbox One or PlayStation 4, all with better image quality. Effects should also be more pronounced and sophisticated, as the new graphics hardware in these consoles can pull off greater amounts of fancy tricks like smoke and fog that has physical properties, and lighting that creates shadows and reflections more like it does in the real world.

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Xbox One Vs Xbox One S: Features

Speaking of Xbox One vs Xbox One S, there are some new features in Xbox One S. Xbox One S supports 4K ULTRA HD and 4K BLU-RAY video playback. This means that you can play 4K Blu-ray and stream 4K content from Netflix and Amazon on Xbox One S.

However, Xbox One S does not support 4K games, of course, you need a 4K TV to watch video boost. The original Xbox One provided a Blu-ray player, but it did not support 4K discs.

One feature removed from Xbox One S is the dedicated Kinect port. Therefore, if you own a Kinect, you need a USB adapter to use it with Xbox One S. Xbox One S gets an IR blaster, so you can use a remote control to switch between all AV peripherals.

Xbox Series X Vs Xbox Series S: Design

While the Xbox Series X is a pretty console, there’s no denying that it’s pretty big: 11.9 x 5.9 x 5.9 inches, and 9.8 pounds. It’s not at all guaranteed to fit in your entertainment center, particularly if you want it in a horizontal configuration.

This is where the Xbox Series S positively shines. The little white console is only 10.8 x 5.9 x 2.6 inches, and 4.3 pounds. It’s one of the smallest, lightest consoles in years, and it fits perfectly in an entertainment center or simply next to a TV on a dresser. The Xbox Series S is easy to fit into any setup, and easy to move around.

For this reason, the Xbox Series S makes a fantastic secondary console for a bedroom, child’s room, guest room you get the idea. This is particularly true since most Xbox Series X/S games are also available on PC, and your save data can carry over especially true if you use Xbox Game Pass Ultimate . On the other hand, we also realize it’s a luxury to own a single console for the living room an extra one might be pushing it.

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